Apparatus and method of introducting a jet of molten metal from a casting ladle centrally into the mould of a continuous casting installation



E/EWMIMJ R. SCHNEIDER Filed July 20. 1961 IFPMIMI? INVENTOR.

E jit sciuzebdep APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INTRODUCING A JET OF MOLTEN METAL FROM A CASTING LADLE CENTRALLY INTO THE MOULD OF A CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION April 13, 1965 G 4 m w g United States Patent 3,177,536 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INTRODUCING A JET OF MOLTEN METAL FROM A CASTING LADLE CENTRALLY INTO THE MOULD OF A CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION Ralf Schneider, Dusseldorf, Germany, assignor to Schloemann Aktiengesellschaft, Dusseldorf, "Germany Filed July 20, 1961, Ser. No. 125,426 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 2, 1960, Sch 28,255 8 Claims. (CI. 22-79) This invention relates to a method whereby a casting jet emerging from a casting ladle is introduced centrally into the mould of a continuous casting installation, more particularly an installation of this kind which has a plurality of moulds.

When the molten metal is poured into the mould of a continuous metal casting installation, the casting jet must run into the mould centrally so that a solidified skin of uniform thickness is formed on all sides of the elongated cast product. If the skin of the continuous east product emerging through the mould is too thin at one point, then the casting skin breaks so that the product has a gap. For this reason, the outer skin is arranged exactly coaxially with the axis of the mould. But the casting ladle and its outlet opening have to be lined with a coating material, of which the thickness cannot always be kept uniform. The result of this is that the casting jet does not run centrally into the mould.

If only a single continuous product is being cast, the distance between the axis of the outlet opening of the casting ladle and the mould axis can be eliminated by displacement of the casting ladle. With multiple casting installations, that is to say, installations in which a plurality of continuous elongated products are cast simultaneously, by displacing the container it is only possible to adjust the container to one of the moulds, whereas the casting jets emerging from the other outlet openings have to be introduced centrally into their respective moulds by means of intermediate channels or the like. Expedients of this kind call for a considerable amount of additional equipment which disadvantageously increases the distance between the casting container and the moulds, and involves considerable expense.

The object of the invention is to improve and simplify the means by which the casting jet is guided into the mould. This problem is solved by a method whereby the casting jet is guided into the mould electromagnetically.

In one apparatus for carrying this method into effect a magnet yoke having an exciting coil is provided between the casting ladle and the mould, and the pole shoes of this yoke form an opening through which the casting jet passes, and electrodes are provided in the casting ladle and on the mould.

If the magnet yoke and the coil are pivotally movable about the axis of the casting jet, then the jet can be deflected in any required direction. This is also possible if two such magnetic deflecting systems are provided and are offset through 90 relatively to one another. In each case, the coil of the magnet is so arranged that the strength of the magnetic field can be changed.

Two embodiments of the invention chosen by way of example are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through the main parts of a continuous casting installation constructed in accordance with the invention, on line II of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 2 is a cross section through the continuous casting installation of FIGURE 1, on line II-II of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a deflecting device, on line IIIIII of FIGURE 1, and

3,177,536 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 FIGURE 4 shows a second embodiment, in longidinal section.

An electrode 2 is arranged on a casting ladle 1. Molten metal is introduced into the interior 3 of the casting ladle 1 and flows into moulds 5a and 5b through outlet openings 4a and 4b. The apparatus illustrated is therefore a double casting installation, that is to say, an installation in which two continuous elongated products are cast simulta-neously. For reasons set forth above, only the outlet opening 411 of the casting ladle 1 can be adjusted to the centre of the mould 5b; at the outlet opening 4a, therefore, a magnet yoke 7 is secured to a rotary table 6; this yoke carries a magnet coil 7b and also carries pole shoes 7a at the end remote from the magnet coil 7b; these pole shoes enclose the casting jet 8 between them. The pole shoes 7a form an elongated opening (cf. FIGURE 3) so that they will still enclose the cast-ing jet 8 even when the axis of the jet is deflected as far as possible. The rotary table 6 is rotatably mounted on a frame 11 and driven by a motor 9 through the intermediary of a bevel gear wheel 10. The axis of rotation of the rotary table 6 coincides approximately with the axis of the jet 8. The mould 5a is arranged underneath the rotary table 6, and an electrode 12 is secured to this mould.

A steady unidirectional voltage is applied to the leads connected to the electrodes 2 and 12, and causes a current to flow, through the casting jet 8, between the casting ladle 1 and the mould 5a. A magnetic field round the casting jet 8 is produced between the pole shoes 7a by excitation of the electromagnet 7a, 7, 7b, and this field produces a force which causes the casting jet 8 to move laterally. The extent of the deflection can be changed according to the magnitude of the steady voltage applied to the electrodes 2 and 12, and of the magnetic field produced between the pole shoes 7a. By additional rotation of the rotary table 6 together with the electromagnet 7, 7a, 7b the catsing jet 8 can be moved to the centre of the mould 5a from any non-central position.

FIGURE 4 shows the second embodiment, in which two magnetic deflecting systems are arranged one below the other and are offset relatively to one another by about their axis. Parts 1, 2, 7, 7a, 7b, 6, 8 and are the same as in FIGURES 1 to 3. The frame 11a carrying the rotary table 6 is located in a fixed position in a manner not described in further detail. Underneath the frame is a second rotary table 16 on a stationary frame 21. The axis of the rotary table 16 coincides with the axis of the rotary table 6. The rotary table 6 carries an electromagnet 17, 17a which also has a coil similar to that of the electromagnet 7, 7a of the upper magnetic system. The electromagnet 7, 70 7b is adapted to deflect the jet 8 in the plane of the drawing, whereas the electromagnet 17, 17a deflects the jet 8 in a direction at right angles to the plane of the drawing. The mould 5a and electrodes 12 are below the rotary table 16. The rotary table 16 is driven by a motor in the same way as the table 6.

Further modifications of the first embodiment are possible. For instance, a respective deflecting system can be provided for each outlet opening of the casting ladle 1. It then becomes unnecessary to provide a mechanism for accurately adjusting the casting ladle to the axis of one of the moulds. Also, the pole shoes 7, 7a need not necessarily enclose an elongated opening. If they enclose a circular opening, however, then the electromagnet should preferably be made radially adjustable so that the casting jet can always be kept between the pole shoes 7a.

I claim:

1. In a continuous casting installation, a casting mould, a casting ladle adapted to discharge a freely falling and substantially vertical continuous jet of molten metal into said mould, an electrode on mould, means for maintaining a voltage between the electrode onthe ladle and the electrodeon the mould so i as to cause a current to be carried by thematerial of said jet vertically along the length of the jet, a magnetic yoke, pole shoes located on said yoke and between said the ladle, an electrode on the i strength; andfdirection of said fieldsubstantially at-right angles to said current, so

said j field, While maintaining as tocontrol the direction of flow'of said jet byinteracladle and said mould, an exciting coil on said yoke and means for passing a current through said coil so asto produce a stationary horizontal rnagnetic field between said pole shoes, whereby the direction of flow of'said-jet' lie altered byintera'ction between the current carried i may 7 by the jet andthemagnetic field.

2; Apparatus as claimed in claim -1, characterised in tion between said field and said current.

8. In a continuous casting insta1lation,;a casting mould, a casting ladle adapted to. discharge a freely falling. and substantially, vertical vcontinuous jet of electrically con- T ductiye molten material intofthe mould, means for passing a unidirectionalflcurrent through said jet vertically along the lengthof. the jet, means for creating a horizontal stationary unidirectional magnetic'field extending through that the magnet yoke and coil are pivotally movable about I the axis of the casting jet. 1 V

3. Apparatus as claimed'inclaim 2, characterised in that the pole shoes form an elongated vertical opening between said ladle and-said mold, said casting jetflowing downwardly through said, opening.

4. Apparatus asclaimed in claim '1, comprising two magnetic deflecting systems one below the other and offset by 9 0 with respect to one another.

5. Apparatus as, c laimed in claim 4, in which the 7 strength of each magnetic deflecting system is variable.

along the length ofthe jet, creating. a stationary hori'-.

zontal magnetic field extending through said jet and substantially at right angles to said current, and adjusting the said jet approximately 'at right angles to said current, and means for adjusting the direction and strength of said fieldfwhile maintaining said field approximately at right angles totsaid current, so as to adjust the direction of flow of saidjet. v V V .Bifil'endsCitedibY the Eira'minerd a V UNITED STATES" PATENTS U FOREIGNVPXTEVNTS 1 159,282,, 10/54 Australia.

a 752,271 7/56 Great Britain.

MrcHAEIQ BRINDISI, Primary Examiner. RAY K; WINDHAMQMARCUSIU. LYONS, Examiners. 

1. IN A CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION, A CASTING MOULD, A CASTING LADLE ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE A FREELY FALLING AND SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL CONTINUOUS JET OF MOLTEN METAL INTO SAID MOULD, AN ELECTRODE ON THE LADLE, AN ELECTRODE ON THE MOULD, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING A VOLTAGE BETWEEN THE ELECTRODE ON THE LADLE AND THE ELECTRODE ON THE MOULD SO AS TO CAUSE A CURRENT TO BE CARRIED BY THE MATERIAL OF SAID JET VERTICALLY ALONG THE LENGTH OT THE JET, A MAGNETIC YOKE, POLE SHOES LOCATED ON SAID YOKE AND BETWEEN SAID LADLE AND SAID MOULED, AN EXCITING COIL ON SAID YOKE AND MEANS FOR PASSING A CURRENT THROUGH SAID COIL SO AS TO PRODUCE A STATIONARY HORIZONTAL MAGNETIC FIELD BETWEEN SAID POLE SHOES, WHEREBY THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF SAID JET MAY LIE ALTERED BY INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CURRENT CARRIED BY THE JET AND THE MAGNETIC FIELD. 